15 Dishes in 15 Minutes?

In the food industry, the amount of time it takes to cook something is extremely important. Rachael Ray has demonstrated that an entire career can be built around the concept of timed meals. Big name chefs like Gordon Ramsay, whose latest cookbook is entitled Fast Food, and Eric Ripert, who recently launched a vlog featuring toaster oven dishes, are focusing on making easy, quick food. It's no surprise that Bon Appetit magazine has jumped on the bandwagon. The June issue included an article entitled "15 Dishes in 15 Minutes,", featuring 15 scrumptious-sounding recipes that can supposedly be made in 15 minutes. But can they? Intrigued by the idea of being able to make an entire entree in less time than it takes to wash my hair, I chose five recipes and timed myself while making them. To find out what I made and how long it took me, click the "Start" button.

Although I used some time-saving tricks (I placed the pancetta in the freezer to make it easier to cut and bought fresh pasta because it cooks quicker), this lemon fettuccine with broccoli and pancetta took forever!

The saying "a watched pot never boils" seemed to mock me. After making this pasta, I realized one of my burners doesn't heat properly.

While it took much longer than 15 minutes, the final dish was absolutely scrumptious. Crisp yet succulent and deliciously salty, the pancetta "croutons" were the highlight.

Salmon "Bulgogi" With Bok Choy and Mushrooms

Meal Time: 30:30

This recipe was the most expensive, because I had to purchase three pantry items: sherry, Asian sesame oil, and chili-garlic sauce.

I don't have a garlic press, so it took time to mince the garlic. Perhaps if the mise was in place, I could have made this dish in 15 minutes.

The final dish was wonderfully balanced in terms of flavor. The vegetables were soft and the salmon silky.

Garlic-Miso Pork Chops With Orange Bell Pepper and Arugula

Meal Time: 30:22

If I hadn't had to mince the garlic, dice a pepper, or wash the arugula, these pork chops could have been made in less time.

The chops my butcher had were larger than 3/4 an inch thick, so they took more than 10 minutes to cook. Still, the final result was hearty and delectable.

Chopped Veggie Salad With Watermelon and Feta Cheese

Meal Time: 18:01

This chopped veggie salad was the closest I came to making a dish in a mere 15 minutes. Alas, for the average cook, chopping a bunch of vegetables takes time!

I was annoyed that the recipe called for 1 pound (16 ounces) of Campari tomatoes when my grocery store sells them in 14 ounce packages. But the salad is the perfect Summer meal: cool, light, and tasty.

Roasted Cod on Large Garlic Croutons

Meal Time: 37:49

When making this roasted cod bruschetta, chopping the vegetables proved to be my biggest setback once again. Although I also forgot to preheat the oven, which lost me 6 minutes.

Delicate and simple, this Italian-inspired meal was surprisingly filling.

Conclusion

All of the dishes were seasonal and good. I would gladly serve these meals to guests. Yet I wonder who can cook these dishes in 15 minutes? A professional chef? A test kitchen chef? The average home cook most certainly cannot. I will continue to experiment with fast, timed recipes, but deep down, I'll know it will take me twice that time to cook the dish.